brokenswordx

Kata is scripted to certain attacks in a certain order, so when you spar you'll hopefully be able to recognize that attack and perform a countermove to it.

What is it that you want to do before you die? ~Get my black belt in karate and kendo. What place would you love to visit before you die? ~Naha City and China

Besides my mom and sister I only talk about martial arts if someone asks me about it. Some of my friends that have asked ended coming to practice out of interest.

Pretty Orchid - That's how I write lyrics as well, but it's been a while since I've written anything new.

Remember you asked for opinions, so I really don’t know why you’re bringing my martial arts background in this. Granted I did state about what I saw from the black belts I’ve come across. While you may not trying to be argumentative, the tone of your post seems (in my opinion) very skeptical of what I’ve written . . . like a just made the post to make you mad and get a laugh out of it. That wasn’t my intention, you asked for opinion and I gave mine. As far as my training maybe I have the time to train in karate, iaido and kendo because that’s all I do. Maybe I train on a rotating schedule, alternating iaido and kendo practice in the morning and karate in evening. I never said you weren’t good at kata, and etc, it seems silly for me to judge the skill of someone I’ve never trained with and don’t know. I was talking about the black belts I’ve come across and have trained with for years. This is what I’ve noticed during my time with them that, they have a strong interest or higher skill level in certain areas but not overall. We all have our favorite area but to solely focus on it and neglect the others will hamper our progress. If you’re serious about running your own dojo talk to your sensei about it and ask to be his/her to be an assistant instructor so you can learn the ropes of running a dojo from teaching yours tyle to the business aspect of it.

Even at 2nd dan you're still just beginning to understand the true essence of your art and there are still techniques and basics that one still must work one. I know a quite a few black belts (in karate) and they seem to have a specialized interest in one area be it kata, kumite, one of the kobudo weapons, but don't have a well rounded knowledge in all areas needed to run their dojo. Lee made his own style after years of development, sighting specific wide spread problems in martial arts and its practitioners. He not only focused on the physical aspects of training, but also the mental and lifestyle aspects as well.

The Little Prince It has a lot of life lessons presented in an unusual way

Shito-ryu part of the JKO

Karate was one of five sports to be voted to become an Olympic sport in future games, however it didn't gain the votes needed to make it official. So my questions are: Are the Olympic Games the next step for karate? What are you're feelings if karate was an Olympic sport?

Keep up the great work! =D

Every time you practice at home pick 3 or 4 katas and practice then a set about times. Doing some strength and cardio training will help out. Don't forget to stretch!

I'd be very depressed, unsure of myself, and without music. Karate gave me the confidence I needed to pursue music, so without it I never would've picked up the guitar, piano, and singing.

I used a eskrima stick when I 1st started because there weren't any bokkens avalible. EDIT: No I'm wrong I used it for kendo. . .sorry. ^^;

Yes. It's optional. We mostly train with the bo, nunchuku, and escrima. Some students train with the sai. Sometime kobudo, mostly bo, is part of our promotion, but sensei tells us what to practice and prepare before the testing.

Dec 21, 2012 = A Global Disco Party!

I stand by what I typed.

I'm thinking about getting the Rosetta Stone program, but am skeptic of anything advertised on TV. You never know how well it's going to work.

Anyone who's already posted: Want to update on what you're doing? (seeing this thread 2 years old) To everyone who hasn't posted what are you doing with your life as of now and what are your plans for the future? Now: I'm halfway through my 2nd year of college and currently have no major. I'm taking voice and piano lessons along with my guitar lessons. LOL my skill is getting there. I've taken a break from martial arts, not because I wanted too. I hope to start training again with the new year. Oh I have a job now as well! I have a new appreication for life. Future: I can't believe I wrote I wanted to get married! That's I will say is undecided. I'm still doing what I can on my path to be a musician and might end up in a medical or arts program with the way things are going right now. . . . art/music therapy?

I think the real porblem is the ego of the adult being taught by a child.

QFT

French - which I plan to relearn starting in Jan. Japanese - I know how to greet and ask a few questions. I plan to take it up sometime later on.

Sometimes it's not wise to take the opening. I know one time when I sparred against a shodan she left her left side open with her arm up waiting for me to do a roundhpuse kick. I knew better, she was going to bring her arm down and submit me, so I did another technique instead. In kendo during heigako(sp?) we have to be watchful of opening and preform the right strike for that opening. Sometimes the higher ranking player well test the lower rank making them perform the same strike in quick session. I learned to better take control of the match from them and set the tone for the match, it helped during promotion when I had to be aggressive in order to be evenly match with someone who otherwise would have push me around.

I feel the same way. Forcing someone to do something they don't want it never a good idea. Good luck!

Tori, you hit the target. After participating in my 1st and last tournament, I felt like it was all for the trophies and getting praise from people for being "#1". In the being that part of the reason why I started to train in martial arts, but as time went on I abandoned that desire. I got more out of teaching/helping others, seeing them advance and refine their skills. I was worried since I was a higher rank that I would be expected to participate in more tournaments, but someone told me that it was ultimately my choice whether to do so or not. It shocked my sensei when I declined the offer to register for another tournament, but he didn't push the subject.

The 3rd and 4th paragraph sum it up for me.